The new year in North Africa was ushered in with a flood of music releases. AdvertisementHowever, it also features great releases from Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, spanning old-school R&B, desert blues, Arab pop, and rap. Elmiene - “Reclusive” (Sudan)British Sudanese powerhouse Elmiene is unstoppable, releasing album after album and never missing once. Over looped, pulsing electronic sounds that remind one of a quickly beating heart, and playful guitar chords, a man is thinking about the relationship with his far-away wife. Safa - “2ndchances” (Sudan, US)NYC-based Sudanese American singer and songwriter Safa came to people’s attention when she appeared in Sudanese folk singer Mustafa’s Tiny Desk concert last year.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 29, 2026 17:07 UTC